What the teachers' strike means to students

When students in School District 60 start school on Tuesday, their teachers will be in Phase 1 of a strike.

But that doesn’t mean they won’t be taught. The B.C. Teachers’ Federation descibes Phase 1 as "teach only". That means students will be taught as usual, but teachers won’t be performing any non-essential duties.

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These include attending meetings, filing paperwork or communicating with Administration via printed, written or electronic means.

Although teachers will not be supervising detentions or recesses, the school district says it has established supervision schedules, taken on by administrators and staff exempt from the strike.

Teachers will still prepare lessons, mark assignments and go on fieldtrips, provided they are required or take place during the school day.

Currently, the B.C. Teachers’ Federation and the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association are in bargaining negotiations.

The teachers served their strike notice on Wednesday.

Chair of the BCPSEA board Melanie Joy says the two sides are meeting every day, and hopefully into the long weekend.

She is confident they will come to an agreement before Phase 2 is reached.

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